Introduction to the March 19 Shooting Case Chronology

 
At a press conference on August 17, 2005, the Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO) under the Ministry of Justice announced closure of its investigation into the March 19 shooting case following the indefatigable efforts of the prosecutorial and investigation agencies. Moreover, since Chen Yi-syong, the prime suspect in the case, is already dead, the prosecutor decided not to indict him. Three conclusions of the investigation were announced at the press conference: Firstly, the final report ruled out the possibility that the event had been staged by President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien and ascertained that both had been shot by a third party. Secondly, it is certain that Chen Yi-syong shot President Chen Shui-bian because of his dissatisfaction with the political situation. Thirdly, the investigation found no evidence of an accomplice. The following Chronology of the March 19 Shooting Case outlines important developments to date so as to act as a reference for people abroad and to help them gain a better understanding of the case.

On March 19, 2004, the day before Taiwan・s presidential election, President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien were shot and wounded while riding in a jeep campaigning through the streets of downtown Tainan. Given the extremely close nature of the election, the shooting was interpreted by some people as political manipulation by the Green Camp for the reelection of President Chen and Vice President Lu. Immediately after the election, their main electoral opponents filed separate lawsuits in the Taiwan High Court to nullify the electee status of President Chen and Vice President Lu, and to nullify the election results. After ordering a full ballot recount and subpoenaeing relevant election officials for investigation, the Taiwan High Court ruled against the suits on November 4 and December 30, 2004. Furthermore, although the Legislative Yuan passed a Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act, parts of the Act were ruled unconstitutional by the Council of Grand Justices (Interpretation No. 585) on December 15, 2004.

From the beginning, prosecutorial and investigation agencies have worked hard and professionally to investigate the case. They even invited world-renowned forensics expert Dr. Henry C. Lee and others to help recreate the crime scene and appraise the material evidence, hoping that world-class expertise might assist them to solve the case. On March 7, 2005, the Criminal Investigation Police Office of the National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior held a press conference to announce the latest findings of its investigation. Chen Yi-syong was made the main suspect based on statements given by his wife and other evidence. The conclusion made by the SPO on August 17, 2005, ascertained that Chen Yi-syong shot President Chen Shui-bian because of his dissatisfaction with the political situation. This conclusion disproves the accusation that ：President Chen and Vice President Lu staged the event.；

Over the past 17 months, the shooting case has unsettled and destabilized society, causing distrust and division among the people. It is hoped that, following the closing of the case, which was handled by the relevant professionals, these phenomena will disappear and that the people of Taiwan can join together to reestablish social stability and once again create economic prosperity.

In a statement issued by the Office of the President on August 17, 2005, President Chen said he respected the judicial investigation・s findings. He hoped that the public will also respect the professional, objective, and independent investigation results made by the March 19 Special Investigation Committee. Both President Chen and Vice President Lu expressed affirmation for and appreciation of the committee・s hard work over the past one and a half years.

March 19 Shooting Case Chronology
(March 19, 2004 - August 17, 2005)

March 19, 2004 President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien are shot and wounded while riding in a red jeep (plate number 3S-9461) during a campaign procession through the streets of the West Central District of Tainan City. The incident took place near No. 14, Section 3, Jinhua Road. The president and vice president are taken to Chi Mei Hospital for medical treatment.

March 20, 2004
Taiwan elects the eleventh-term president and vice president of the Republic of China. Chen Shui-bian and Lu Hsiu-lien win by a narrow margin.

March 21, 2004
The Office of the President, emphasizing that the ：evidence speaks for itself,； holds a press conference and releases photographs of the president and vice president receiving medical treatment after the shooting.

March 21, 2004
Lawyers representing Chairman Lien Chan of the Kuomintang (KMT) and Chairman James Soong of the People First Party (PFP) file a lawsuit in the Taiwan High Court to nullify the electee status of President Chen and Vice President Lu. The court rules that all ballot boxes across the nation be seized and sealed in order to preserve evidence.

March 24, 2004
The collegiate bench of the Taiwan High Court rejects the election lawsuit filed by Lien Chan and James Soong・s attorneys for procedural reasons, citing the suit・s failure to meet the necessary requirements as the election results have yet to be announced.

March 26, 2004
The Central Election Commission officially announces that Chen Shui-bian and Lu Hsiu-lien are elected the eleventh-term president and vice president of the Republic of China.

March 26, 2004
The police release video images from surveillance cameras near the scene of the shooting and identify two potential suspects: a balding male in a yellow jacket and blue trousers, and a male riding a heavy-duty motorcycle.

March 27, 2004
President Chen responds to the request for a complete ballot recount, expressing his willingness to accept the results.

March 29, 2004
Lien Chan and James Soong re-file their suit to nullify the electee status of President Chen and Vice President Lu. The Central Election Commission offers samples of valid and invalid ballots to the Taiwan High Court.

April 5, 2004
The collegiate bench of the Taiwan High Court rules that the suit to nullify the election will be examined separately rather than jointly with the suit to nullify the electee status to be handled by the Tenth Civil Court.

April 9 to 11, 2004
A team led by forensics expert Dr. Henry C. Lee visits Taiwan to recreate the crime scene and examine evidence. Dr. Lee preliminarily confirms that the wounds of President Chen and Vice President Lu were caused by gunshots. Although the two shots came from similar sources, he cannot be certain whether they were fired by the same gun.

April 21, 2004
Following negotiations with attorneys for both sides, the Taiwan High Court rules that a full ballot recount will begin on May 10.

July 6, 2004
After meeting with the heads of the five branches of government, President Chen announces the creation of an unofficial independent investigative committee for the March 19 shooting incident. President Fredrick Chien of the Control Yuan is appointed as chairman and instructed to select members for the committee.

August 24, 2004
Dissatisfied with President Chen・s proposal, the Legislative Yuan passes the Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act. A 17-member commission will be established, with members to be nominated by political parties on the basis of proportional representation. The Democratic Progressive Party indicates that it will call for reconsideration and constitutional interpretation of the Act.

August 27, 2004
The Executive Yuan approves calling for a reconsideration of the Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act passed by the Legislative Yuan.

August 30, 2004
President Chen Shui-bian approves the Executive Yuan・s proposal on reconsideration of the Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act.

September 3, 2004
The Executive Yuan returns the Act to the Legislative Yuan for reconsideration, declaring that the truth-finding commission would violate the division of power between the five branches of government as stipulated by the Constitution and that implementation of the Act would be difficult.

September 14, 2004
The Legislative Yuan votes and overrides the Executive Yuan proposal on the Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act.

September 15, 2004
The Democratic Progressive Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union request that the Council of Grand Justices provide a constitutional interpretation and call on the council to issue a preliminary injunction against the act taking effect.

September 24, 2004
President Chen Shui-bian promulgates the Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act in accordance with the law, but does not nominate the committee members. In a letter to the heads of the five branches of government, President Chen writes: ：The Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act involves a serious constitutional dispute that should be resolved by seeking a constitutional interpretation or revising the law.；

October 27, 2004
The Constitutional Court begins hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act, and announces that an interpretation will be handed down at the end of December.

November 4, 2004
The Taiwan High Court rejects Lien Chan and James Soong・s suit regarding nullification of the electee status of the president and vice president. According to the court・s press release, the result of the vote recount revealed that the actual votes won by the accused totaled 6,461,177, while the final vote count for the plaintiff was 6,435,614, yielding a margin of victory of 25,563 votes. Although the number of votes for the defendants announced by the Central Election Commission was inaccurate as the plaintiffs charged, the difference could not affect the result of the presidential election.

November 5, 2004
Dr. Henry C. Lee・s forensic report is posted on the website of the Supreme Prosecutors Office. The report confirms that one bullet was fired directly at the Jeep and says that the bullets and shell casings bore marks from the tools used to manufacture them.

December 13, 2004
Wu Ying-jhao, public prosecutor-general of the Supreme Prosecutors Office and head of the March 19 Special Investigation Committee, announces a significant breakthrough in the overall case: Police have found the workshop that manufactured the gun used in the shooting and arrested Tang Shou-yi on suspicion of producing and selling guns. Mr. Wu expresses his confidence that the case will be solved.

December 15, 2004
In Interpretation No. 585, the Council of Grand Justices rules that portions of the Special March 19 Shooting Truth-finding Commission Act are unconstitutional.

December 30, 2004
The Taiwan High Court rejects the suit brought by Lien Chan and James Soong to nullify the election results. The collegiate bench rules that the Central Election Committee and related election agencies did not violate the law with respect to holding the referendum vote simultaneously with the election of the president and vice president, nor with respect to the controversy over the initiation of national security mechanisms. On the issue of illegal election operations, the court observes that the 3,700-plus defective ballots could not change the result of the election, and thus decides against Lien Chan and James Soong.

March 7, 2005
The March 19 Special Investigation Committee announces the latest developments in the investigation of the March 19 shooting: All evidence points to Chen Yi-syong as the suspected shooter. The committee vows to continue efforts to investigate further.

August 17, 2005
The Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO) under the Ministry of Justice and the March 19 Special Investigation Committee announces closure of the investigation into the March 19 Shooting Case. The SPO also announces that it was ascertained that Chen Yi-syong shot President Chen Shui-bian because of his dissatisfaction with the political situation. Since Chen Yi-syong was already dead, the prosecutor decided not to indict him.